SILICON NITRIDE BODY HAVING HIGH AS-FIRED SURFACE STRENGTH

摘要

A silicon nitride body is sintered in a silicon nitride crucible at a temperature ranging from about 1700 °C to 2100 °C. Sintering is carried out in the presence of nitrogen gas having sufficiently high pressure to prevent decomposition of the silicon nitride. The sintered body exhibits as-fired surface strength greater than 75 % of its bulk, machined-surface strength.